Hanover Planners Favor Keystone Savings Branch

June 04, 1986|by JANIS BARNEY, The Morning Call

Plans for a branch of Keystone Savings Association in the Bethlehem Business Park were approved Monday by the HanoverTownship Planning Commission.

The planners will recommend approval of the first phase of a plan for a branch bank and administrative building on 7.6 acres in the park. Their recommendation to the township supervisors will include their acceptance of requests for waivers of several township requirements.

After some discussion, the planners agreed to allow one of the facility's driveways to be both an exit and an entrance. They had previously suggested the driveway be one way in an attempt to alleviate the traffic problems at Highland Avenue and Route 512.

John Pidcock of G. Edwin Pidcock Co., planners for the project, said a one-way driveway would cause other problems for people driving to the facility.

The planners also will recommend that trees serving as a screen between Keystone and the next commercial property be placed 30 feet apart, rather than the 7 feet required by ordinance. Pidcock had said the type of trees that will be planted could not survive so close together. A request for the elimination of a second row of trees was denied.

Also waived by the board was a requirement for off-street loading space, after Pidcock said the only deliveries at the facility would be made by vans, not larger trucks.

The planners recommended Zoning Hearing Board approval of a driveway that would be closer to the intersection of Highland Avenue and Adler Road than allowed by ordinance, and approved the waiver of setback requirements for a parking lot.

Township engineer James Birdsall said it must be determined whether money for improvements of intersections near the facility will come from the Bethlehem Business Park or from Keystone.

In other business, the board considered plans for the continuation of the 400-acre Pointe North development off Route 512, where developers are proposing townhouses and single-family homes.

In response to a suggestion from planner Ted Jones, representatives of Pointe Associates said they would be willing to consider dedicating land for a park near the townhouse area. The planners will get comments from the Recreation Board on the matter.